According to a July letter written by Donald Kelly’s attorney to several other residents in the building, "It is not my client's intention to terminate the condominium association known as Sheffield O Condominium."

“So I'm glad, I’m glad it’s not going to happen,” said David Israel, president of the United Civic Organization, which acts as property manager for Century Village.

Israel said people were in a panic when Kelly sent 71-year-old Nancy Salmi a letter in March, saying, "I am in the process of taking steps to dissolve the association of Sheffield O, whereby all of the apartments that I do not own would be forced to sell to me at the Palm Beach County appraiser’s value."

“I mean, that’s really a threat,” Salmi said in July.

Salmi and others in the longtime retirement community said they were scared because, according to Florida law, if an investor like Kelly owns 80 percent of the units, he can legally force the other homeowners to sell. The law was originally intended to let investors take over hurricane-damaged buildings and rebuild, but has been used in recent years to snap up lower-priced properties – which often belong to the elderly - and resell or rent at a profit.

Neither Kelly nor his lawyer would comment during WPBF 25’s investigation last month, but Kelly’s lawyer ended up sending the second letter to Salmi and others in Sheffield O assuring residents he would not dissolve the association.

Still, Kelly owns at least 15 units, and residents said he's been filling them with short-term renters, people under 55, and people who haven't undergone background checks.

“It’s being run, for lack of a better term, like a motel,” said Israel, who said the UCO is continuing to investigate and use legal pressure to keep the 55 age limit and other by-laws in place and adhered to.